St Laurence O’Toole’s Athletic Club in Carlow awarded €5,000
St Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club assistant chairperson, Bríd Long (centre), and fellow club members, were presented with a cheque at the Texaco Service Station, Dublin Road, Tullow. Pictured with them were Graham Kelly, from Texaco service station (back, fourth right) and Valero Area Sales Manager, Damien Burke (front, centre right).
SAINT Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club has been chosen winners of the Carlow County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative. €5,000 has been presented to the club to fund a new set of hurdles and four steeplechases – allowing it to host a full suite of athletic events.
Founded in Carlow Town in 1920, the club now has over 400 members and caters for runners and athletes of all ages, abilities and social groups. In addition to providing facilities to the broader community, the club’s goal is to nurture the existing and future talent of athletes within Carlow.
Now in its fifth year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis. Previous Carlow winners were Bagenalstown Swimming Club (2021), Palatine GAA Club (2022) and Tullow Rugby Football Club (2024).
Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan.
Describing the Carlow club as “a very deserving recipient”, he added: “St. Laurence O'Toole Athletic Club is a selfless club that looks out for its whole community rather than just its members. I hope the new equipment funded by this award will lead to an increased level of success in Irish athletics in the southeast of the country and beyond.” Entries for the 2026 Texaco Support for Sport initiative will open again in the New Year for all clubs, including those whose application may have been unsuccessful previously.
